(Disclaimer: Amazon Affiliate links included where possible and I deem them relevant. I’ll earn a small commission, as described in my privacy policy from eligible purchases made through these links.)

So because of my work schedule, I’m normally getting up around 11 am and having breakfast when most people are thinking about lunch.

Not yesterday though. Yesterday, soon after I woke up I was hit with one of the most intense migraines I’ve ever had… accompanied by some of the most intense nausea to go with it. Like “I can’t keep down water” intense. The result was that it took until 3 pm before I dared to even take an Excedrin lest I vomit it right back up again.

In the meantime, that migraine wasn’t going to let me do anything, so instead of powering through it to even watch TV, I went back to lay down in bed with my blackout curtains (mostly–there are still gaps in how it’s installed) keeping the room dark and a light muslin blanket draped over my face in place of a mask to complete the effect. And then I somehow managed to doze–due to boredom more than anything else, I suspect–waking up periodically to hunch over my trash can before laying back down again, until finally the pain dulled around 6 pm.

7 hours of getting nothing done, all because my body wouldn’t let me.

Thankfully I was able to eat supper with my family, but some time around midnight my stomach started giving me a none-too-gentle reminder that supper was the only time I’d eaten (though one would think how recently I’d eaten would matter more to how full my stomach was to whether I’d had other meals), and even after eating the sandwich that was originally supposed to be my breakfast/lunch I still had to persuade myself I ought not have more to eat that day.

Somewhere along the lines I considered the fruit-and-herbal teas I had bought weeks ago and never opened (I’m not a tea drinker but try it now and again for the alleged health benefits), googled whether specific ones were recommended for migraines, and based on the results of that search brewed a cup of a spearmint/lavender blend. On that same note I’m also waiting for a shipment of Tea Drops (not instant tea but the closest I’ve found to test a theory regarding my “not a tea drinker” status) which, due to a sale going on at the time, should include somewhere close to a dozen peppermint drops.

A list of products in use, Amazon Associate links included:

• Blackout curtains (I bought these ones in particular because I had trouble finding a set that fit the height of my windows. Fabric is great for blackout but as mentioned above I have issues with how they’re installed; I have the correct type of curtain rod but I think I’ll want some kind of adhesive to keep them clinging to the wall–especially right next to my bed–and need to figure out something to put on top as they don’t have ruffles to block out the light coming through up there).
• Muslin blanket (Light enough for summer, warm enough for winter, thin enough to easily pack away in my dresser… and despite the waffle weave densely woven enough to add to the curtain’s blackout effect. I prefer this over sleep masks because of the airflow and lack of pressure from elastic. I have two of these on my bed and am debating on buying more to swap out for laundry days.)
• Joseph Travel mug (One of two brands chosen for its microwave safe feature. I originally bought these when looking for something that would let me make hot apple cider from powder mix–there’s that theory about instant drinks–on the spot when it’s time to come home from work in the middle of winter, but it works quite well when brewing tea as well… especially when discovering more and more brands relying on stringless bags. Instead of holding the string to dunk to agitate, I can just seal the lid and shake or swirl as needed and fish the tea bag out with a spoon when I’m done. The other brand is Neon Cactus and obviously you want the sealable lid to brew it the same way though I bought the version with a straw for drinking purposes.)
• Tea Drops (Acquired to test a theory regarding the taste of instant tea versus brewed tea as I couldn’t find any actual “instant” options for peppermint. The choice to look for peppermint specifically pertained to migraine relief but the choice to order the brand in the first place wasn’t. I’m still waiting for my order to ship but the link is here for anyone interested in trying it themselves. Bear in mind some flavors are only available via custom boxes straight from their own website.)